seda annual report 2023
seda annual report 2023
The Savannah Regional Film Commission reported a direct spend of $98,182,688 for film and television production for the year 2023. After two labor strikes halted entertainment production for more than 100 days, the Savannah area managed to keep crews working by landing three interim agreement shows that were permitted to film by accepting contract terms with both SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America.
In total, there were 62 professional productions and 14 student productions for the year. Major productions included Origin, directed by Ava DuVernay, Juror #2, directed by Clint Eastwood, the Freevee television series Clean Slate, and the final season of AMC’s Fear The Walking Dead. During the strikes, three independent features chose Savannah as their filming destination: Bride Hard, starring Rebel Wilson, Anna Camp and Justin Hartley; The Fabulous Four, starring Bette Midler, Susan Sarandon, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Megan Mullally; and Vampires of the Velvet Lounge, starring Mena Suvari and Dichen Lachman.
Savannah was once again named in the top three “Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker: Small Cities and Towns” by MovieMaker Magazine. Savannah ranked number three for 2023. Savannah has been in the top three for the past nine years, taking the number one spot in 2020, 2019, 2017 and 2016.
In March of last year, SEDA was heartbroken to announce the passing of Erin Fraser, the newly appointed SRFC Film Commissioner. In the aftermath of that tragedy, Katie Schuck was promoted to Assistant Director and Renee Leventis became the new Manager of Operations. In November, Walker Dalton, formerly of SCAD, was tapped as the new SRFC Executive Director.
At the close of the year, SEDA’s board of directors unanimously approved a new incentive designed to attract a sound stage development investment to the region, thus solidifying SEDA’s and SRFC’s commitment to growing Savannah’s production infrastructure.
